UBS Atrium series kicks off with Django Festival All-Stars

The Django Festival All-Stars will kick off the 2018-19 season of the UBS Atrium Series on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m.

The free midday concert will take place in the Atrium at 1000 Harbor Boulevard in the Lincoln Harbor section of Weehawken.

The Django Festival All-Stars are known for using the music of Gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, who is regarded as one of the greatest guitar players of all time. Reinhardt's style of playing became known as hot jazz due to his driving, swinging style.

The All-Stars have put their own spin on Reinhardt's material by adding their interpretations and arrangements that honor the jazz guitarist.

The band features Dorado Schmitt, along with his two sons Samson and Amati. The three are regarded as one of Europe's best musical families. The band also features virtuoso violinists Pierre Blanchard and Ludovic Beier on accordion.

For their show at the UBS Atrium, the All Stars will be joined by award winning alto sax player Grace Kelly. Kelly won the 2016 Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll as Rising Star Alto Saxophonist. She's also won multiple ASCAP Composer Awards and international songwriting awards.

The Django Festival All-Stars have played some of the top known venues in the world such as the Kennedy Center, the Newport Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the Montreal Jazz Festival. They also play annually at the Birdland Jazz Club, which is regarded as their home in New York City.

The venue at 1000 Harbor Blvd. is wheelchair accessible and free parking is available in the adjacent outdoor lot.